Wall element

ABSTRACT

In a wall element ( 1, 2 ) for a mobile dividing wall with a wall member ( 3 ) and a border profile ( 4 ), the said profile comprises a base member (G), which is firmly joined to the wall member ( 3 ), and a revolving element ( 10, 10′ ) mounted therein to turn around its axis ( 15 ). The base member (G) comprises two lips ( 18 ) bearing substantially against the revolving element ( 10, 10′ ). The revolving element ( 10, 10′ ) is coated on part of its surface with burr material ( 16 ) and is otherwise provided with at least one further surface structure. Depending on the angular position of the revolving element, the burr material ( 16 ) or alternatively the different surface structure or one of the different surface structures is exposed externally between the two lips ( 18 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall element for a mobile dividing wall, comprising a wall member and at least one border profile disposed peripherally thereon and provided with a joining element of burr material.

[0002] Mobile dividing walls, which are joined together from wall elements of the type cited hereinabove, are used in particular for flexible subdivision of large office rooms. Further typical applications exist, for example, in the area of exhibitions and trade fairs. Wall elements of the class in question typically have a border profile curved in cylindrically convex shape on each of two mutually facing edges, one being coated with burr material and the other with velour. Such wall elements are known, for example, from French Patent 2570408 A1, German Patent 4207644 A1, Swiss Patent 632034 A5 and International Patent 98/00613 A1. Depending on the specific actual layout, two or possibly more of such wall elements are placed directly together or are adjoined to a pillar.

[0003] Wall elements of the type mentioned in the introduction are extremely popular, especially because the wall element can be joined to the neighboring building member in technically simple manner, by means of a pair comprising burr material and velour, to obtain an attractive esthetic layout of high durability combined with a high degree of flexibility. One disadvantage, however, is that the burr material at the free end of a dividing wall is capable of damaging articles of clothing (woolen sweaters, jackets, neckties and the like), because threads of the corresponding fabric, single-thread knitted article or multiple-thread knitted article become caught in the hooks of the burr material. It is not only at the free edges of an installed mobile dividing wall that this can happen; to the contrary, it is also possible in particular during the handling of individual wall elements, whether at the factory during manufacture and packing or in the user's facilities, for example during assembly, disassembly, transportation and/or storage of individual wall elements.

[0004] Heretofore this problem has been solved by working with a separate covering tape, which has a velour-like surface and on which the burr material is placed and pressed thereagainst. A disadvantage of this solution is that such covering tape is often lost in practice and, when needed again for reconfiguring the dividing wall, for example, is no longer available. Incidentally, it is not an entirely simple matter to attach the covering tape, and so, in practice, if attached by untrained personnel, the tape often becomes wrinkled or leads in some other way to an esthetically unsatisfactory situation.

[0005] Furthermore, it has already been proposed that the burr material be attached to an oval tube, which can be axially inserted into and withdrawn from a corresponding base member of the border profile. This oval tube is coated with burr material only on half of its surface. If the burr material is (temporarily) not needed in the region of the border profile in question, for example because the edge in question of the corresponding wall element is the end edge of a dividing wall, the tube is inserted into the base member of the border profile in such a way that it is not the burr material, but instead a different surface coating of the oval tube (such as velour), that is exposed. This also does not represent a practical proposal for solving the problem cited hereinabove since, if an existing dividing wall is to be modified, for example by adding a further wall element onto a previously free end, the existing dividing wall must be dismantled partly at first—at least in the case of low room heights and high dividing walls—in order that the originally outermost wall element can be moved in order to withdraw the oval tube from the base member of the border profile in this position and then reinserted into the base member of the border profile in the position with the burr material facing outward. Thereafter the wall element in question is realigned and reassembled. It is only then that the wall element to be newly added can be attached.

[0006] Against the background of the disadvantages of the prior art explained hereinabove, the object of the present invention is to provide a wall element of the type mentioned in the introduction that can be handled comfortably with great flexibility as regards layout of the dividing wall while precluding, with minimum effort, the risk that textiles can be damaged by contact with the burr material.

[0007] The object cited in the foregoing is achieved by a wall element of the type mentioned in the introduction that is characterized by the features specified in the following:

[0008] the border profile comprises a base member and a revolving element;

[0009] the base member is firmly joined to the wall member;

[0010] the base member comprises two lips bearing substantially against the revolving element;

[0011] the region of the revolving element that is exposed externally between the two lips amounts to less than 50% of the surface of the revolving element;

[0012] the revolving element is coated on part of its surface with burr material and is otherwise provided with at least one different surface structure, the region coated with burr material being at most as large as the region of the revolving element that is concealed internally between the two lips;

[0013] the revolving element is mounted to turn around its axis in the base member in such a way that the burr material or alternatively the at least one different surface structure of the revolving element is externally exposed between the two lips.

[0014] It is therefore of major importance for the inventive wall element that the border profile comprises a revolving element which is disposed to turn around its axis in the base member joined firmly to the wall member, the revolving element being coated with burr material only on part of its surface. In this way, if the burr material is not needed to establish a joint with an adjacent building member (a further wall element or a pillar), the revolving element can be turned such that it is directed into the internally concealed region disposed between the two lips of the base member of the border profile; in this angular position of the revolving element, the different surface structure or one of the different surface structures is exposed externally between the two lips. If a further wall element is to be attached to such a border profile during reconfiguration of the dividing wall, the revolving element can be turned with minimal effort such that the burr material faces outward between the two lips of the base member of the wall element. The existing dividing wall does not have to be dismantled in any way for this purpose. Moreover, the potential loss of covering tapes or other loose parts is no longer a problem.

[0015] A first preferred improvement of the invention is characterized in that the lips are elastically compliant. It is not merely with regard to the closest possible contact between the lips and the revolving element, even in the case of different surface structures or surface coatings (see hereinafter), that this is particularly favorable. Such an elastically compliant form of the lips is also advantageous from the viewpoint that the revolving element provided according to the invention in no way absolutely has to be of circular cylindrical construction. To the contrary, revolving elements with noncircular cross section, such as oval, elliptical, polygonal or analogous cross section can be used where desired within the scope of the present invention. In the case of such noncircular cross sections of the revolving element, contact between the lips of the base member and the revolving element even in different angular positions can be favored by the elastically flexible design of the lips.

[0016] Whereas the revolving element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be of circular cylindrical shape or at least of substantially circular cylindrical shape for many applications, a further preferred improvement of the inventive wall element is characterized in that the revolving element has a cross section composed of at least two, particularly preferably of three arcuate segments, the individual partial faces of the revolving element having substantially the same curvature as the end regions of the lips. In this way the border profile forms a substantially semicircular cylindrical closure of the wall element. This makes it possible, for example, to link together wall elements designed according to the invention with such of conventional type.

[0017] Another preferred improvement of the invention is characterized in that the revolving element has a velour covering on part of its surface. This is particularly favorable from the viewpoint of flexibility of the configuration of the dividing wall since, by turning the revolving element, it is possible, for the border profile in question, to turn the burr material or alternatively the velour covering into the region that is exposed externally between the two lips of the base member of the border profile. In this way the wall element in question, together with the associated border profile, can be attached to another wall element or alternatively to a pillar regardless of whether the corresponding joining element there is made of burr material or of velour. If three wall elements meet at one joining point, the present improvement of the invention even permits a particularly firm structure, in that the revolving member in one of the three wall elements is turned to such an intermediate position that partly the burr material and otherwise the velour covering is visible in the region that is exposed externally between the two lips. By means of the burr material, a joint is established with that one of the two further wall elements directly joined to one another in which the velour covering between the lips is exposed externally, whereas, by means of the velour covering, a joint is established with the other of the two further wall elements in which the burr material is exposed externally between the lips.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be provided according to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention that the revolving element has on part of its surface a cloth covering and/or a powdered or anodized aluminum coating. In this way a particularly attractive esthetic layout of a mobile dividing wall can be achieved without any additional expense for the outer borders of a mobile dividing wall and without hereby restricting the possible uses for the wall elements in question.

[0019] If the revolving element of the border profile has two, three or even four regions with different surface structure within the meaning described hereinabove, it is provided on its surface, according to a further preferred improvement of the present invention, with axial grooves which define and limit the different surface regions. Those axial grooves are suitable in particular for accommodating the borders of the covering comprising burr material, velour and/or cloth, whereby a particularly neat transition from one surface structure to the neighboring surface structure is obtained and, moreover, excellent protection against detachment of the respective strip-like covering is achieved. These axial grooves are matched in width and depth to the respective covering being used (burr material, velour, cloth) in such a way that the free borders of the covering in question are reliably clamped durably in the axial groove.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the angular position of the revolving member of the border profile can be fixed with an immobilizing device in the associated base member. Such an immobilizing device can be designed in particular as a clamping device. In this sense, the revolving element, for example, can be braced relative to the associated holders in which it is mounted to turn. It is also conceivable, for example, to provide a clamping or bracing device which acts on the lips of the base member in order to fix the angular position of the revolving member in the base member. Regardless of how the immobilizing device is actually designed from the technical and structural viewpoint, the fixability of the angular position of the revolving member always provides the advantage that inadvertent maladjustment is prevented, and so, in particular—given fixed angular position of the revolving member—it is also more difficult for the configuration of the mobile dividing wall to be inadvertently changed.

[0021] Within the scope of the present invention, the base member of the border profile preferably has a multi-piece structure. In this sense the base member can in particular have two-piece structure, in that it comprises a frame part and a mushroom-shaped profile, the mushroom-shaped profile being slipped onto the frame part. This frame part is firmly joined to the wall member, especially by bolting. Under these circumstances, it is possible in particular to attach, to the frame part, holders for the turnable bearing system of the revolving member. The mushroom-shaped profile with its two lips, which bear against the surface of the revolving element when the border profile is assembled, can then be clipped onto the frame part after it has been assembled.

[0022] Although not absolutely necessary, each wall element is preferably provided, in the scope of the present invention, with at least two border profiles of matching shape, which are disposed on two facing edges of the wall member. In this way a particularly high degree of flexibility is obtained with regard to the possibilities for layout of the dividing wall.

[0023] Finally, a further preferred improvement of the invention is characterized in that the revolving element is divided into at least two portions, the at least two portions of the revolving element being turnable independently of one another. This form of the inventive wall element proves to be particularly advantageous when wall elements of different heights are to be linked to one another as part of a dividing wall. In this case it is possible, for example, to adjust the lower portion of the revolving element to the higher of the two wall elements to be joined to one another such that the burr material faces outward, while the upper portion of the revolving element is adjusted such that a cloth covering faces outward.

[0024] It has already been explained hereinabove that the revolving element in no case absolutely has to have circular cylindrical shape but, to the contrary—depending on requirements—that different cross sections can be considered for the revolving element. Among the related possibilities it must also be understood that the revolving element in no way absolutely has to have a surface that is always closed. To the contrary, the revolving element can also have, for example, within this meaning, an opening that extends over a considerable part of the circumference, by the fact that, for example, a wedge-like opening extending over 120° is provided. Such an opening can be suitable, if necessary, for accommodation of any desired inserts suitable for the respective application. On the remaining 240° of the revolving element, there could be provided, for example, equal proportions of a burr covering and a velour covering.

[0025] The present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of four preferred practical examples illustrated in the attached drawing, wherein:

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through the border regions of two wall elements linked to one another,

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through a revolving element that is used particularly preferably,

[0028]FIG. 3 shows a horizontal section through the border region of a further preferred practical example of a wall element according to the present invention, and

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a horizontal section through the border region of yet another preferred practical example of a wall element according to the present invention.

[0030] In the dividing wall illustrated as a partial section in FIG. 1, two wall elements 1 and 2 are linked to one another in line. These two wall elements are of matching construction. Each of the wall elements 1 and 2 comprises a wall member 3 and two border profiles 4 disposed on facing edges thereof. Each border profile 4 comprises a base member G in the form of a frame part 5 bolted firmly to the associated wall member 3 and a mushroom-shaped profile 6 that can be clamped thereon. In this case the cloth upholstery 7 of wall member 3 extends beyond the outside faces of frame part 5, which are flush with the outside faces of wall member 3, to clamping edges 8 of frame part 5.

[0031] Two holders 9, between which revolving element 10 is mounted to turn around its axis 15, are firmly joined to frame part 5. This axis 15 extends parallel to the edge in question of wall member 3. These holders 9 are respectively fastened to frame part 5 in question by a sole plate 11, which is inserted in a corresponding seat 12 of frame part 5 and secured in position by a bolt 13.

[0032] Revolving element 10 comprises a circular cylindrical round tube 14, which in the region of its axis 15 is mounted to turn in holders 9. The surface of round tube 14 has substantially equal proportions of two different surface structures in the form of a burr material 16 on the one hand and a velour covering 17 on the other hand applied on round tube 14.

[0033] Mushroom-shaped profile 6 comprises two lips 18, which are of elastically compliant construction and bear with an appropriate bias load on the outside surface of revolving element 10, as well as two clamping arms 19, whose latching projections 20 engage with clamping edges 8 of frame part 5 from behind when mushroom-shaped profile 6 is assembled.

[0034] Whereas both covering 16 of burr material and velour covering 17 of revolving element 10 each extend by 180° around the circumference of round tube 14, the region of revolving element 10 that is exposed externally between the two lips 18 of mushroom-shaped profile 6 amount to less than 50% of the surface thereof, or in the present case about 150°. Hereby it is ensured that, when revolving element 10 is in suitable angular position, either only burr material 16 or only velour covering 17 is visible in the region that is exposed externally between the two lips 18 of mushroom-shaped profile 6. The joint between the two wall elements 1 and 2 is obviously established by adjusting revolving element 10 of wall element 1 such that covering 16 of burr material faces outward, while in wall element 2 velour covering 17 faces outward between the two lips 18 of mushroom-shaped profile 6.

[0035] A third wall element could be adjoined particularly firmly to the joint region of the two wall elements joined to one another as illustrated in FIG. 1, by turning the revolving element of the third wall element to an intermediate position in which partly burr material and partly velour is externally exposed between the lips.

[0036] In the embodiment of revolving element 10′ illustrated in FIG. 2, a support tube 21 has four axial grooves 22. These axial grooves 22 define and limit four surface regions of support tube 21. A covering 16 of burr material is applied on a first region. A further region is surfaced with a velour covering 17. A further region has a cloth covering 23; and the fourth region has a powdered or anodized aluminum coating 24. The edges of the covering of burr material 16, velour 17 and cloth 23 are each pressed into the axial grooves 22 in question, whereby a well-defined, precise transition from one surface structure to the next is obtained. This also counteracts the tendencies of the corresponding covering to become loosened. Axial grooves 22 adjacent to the surface region provided with a powdered or anodized aluminum coating 24 are narrower than the two facing axial grooves 22, since only one layer of covering has to be accommodated here. In addition, the surface region of support tube 21 provided with a powdered or anodized aluminum coating 24 is raised somewhat compared with the other three regions, in order to ensure that revolving element 10′ has a substantially circular cylindrical external shape despite the different thickness of powdered or anodized aluminum coating 24 compared with the covering materials. It is self-evident that, for use of revolving element 10′ illustrated in FIG. 2, the base member of the frame profile illustrated in FIG. 1 must be adapted by making the region that is exposed externally between the two lips 18 correspondingly narrower.

[0037] Wall element 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 is characterized in that revolving element 10 has a cross section composed of three identical arcuate segments. The curvature of these arcuate segments corresponds to the curvature of end regions 25 of lips 18, so that the wall element is closed in the form of a semicircular cylinder in the region of border profile 4, the semicircular cylindrical surface of border profile 4 being composed of curved end regions 25 of lips 18 and of the convex partial face of revolving element 10 that faces outward between free edges 26 of the two lips 18. By analogy with the explanation for FIG. 2, revolving element 10 is provided on its three partial faces with three different covering materials, which specifically are firstly a burr material 16, secondly a velour covering 17 and finally a powdered or anodized aluminum coating 24. Here also grooves can in turn be provided in the region of the three longitudinal edges of the revolving element, between each two partial faces, as explained in connection with FIG. 2.

[0038] The embodiment according to FIG. 4 is based substantially on the same principle as the embodiment according to FIG. 3. In this case, however, the three partial faces of revolving element 10 are planar, and so the cross section of the revolving element corresponds to an equilateral triangle. This embodiment of the wall element is suitable in particular for binding to a pillar with a polygonal cross section, such as an octagonal cross section. 

1. A wall element (1, 2) for a mobile dividing wall, comprising a wall member (3) and at least one border profile (4) disposed peripherally thereon and provided with a joining element of burr material (16), with the following features: the border profile (4) comprises a base member (G) and a revolving element (10, 10′); the base member (G) is firmly joined to the wall member (3); the base member (G) comprises two lips (18) bearing substantially against the revolving element (10, 10′); the region of the revolving element (10, 10′) that is exposed externally between the two lips (18) amounts to less than 50% of the surface of the revolving element; the revolving element (10, 10′) is coated on part of its surface with burr material (16) and is otherwise provided with at least one further surface structure, the region coated with burr material (16) being at most as large as the region of the revolving element (10, 10′) that is concealed internally between the two lips (18); the revolving element (10, 10′) is mounted to turn around its axis (15) in the base member (G) in such a way that the burr material (16) or alternatively the different surface structure or one of the different surface structures is exposed externally between the two lips (18).
 2. A wall element according to claim 1, characterized in that the lips (18) are elastically compliant.
 3. A wall element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the wall element (10, 10′) is of circular cylindrical construction.
 4. A wall element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the border profile forms a substantially semicircular cylindrical closure, the revolving element (10) having a cross section composed of at least two arcuate segments and the partial faces of the revolving element having substantially the same curvature as the end regions 25 of the lips
 18. 5. A wall element according to claim 4, characterized in that the cross section of the revolving element (10) is composed of three arcuate segments.
 6. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the revolving element (10, 10′) has a velour covering (17) on part of its surface.
 7. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the revolving element (10′) has a cloth covering (23) on part of its surface.
 8. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the revolving element (10′) has a powdered or anodized aluminum coating (24) on part of its surface.
 9. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the revolving element (10′) has on its surface axial grooves (22) which define the different surface regions.
 10. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the angular position of the revolving element (10, 10′) in the base member (G) can be fixed by means of an immobilizing device.
 11. A wall element according to claim 10, characterized in that the immobilizing device is designed as a clamping device.
 12. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base member (G) has a multi-piece structure.
 13. A wall element according to claim 12, characterized in that the base member (G) has a two-piece structure, in that it comprises a frame part (5) and a mushroom-shaped profile (6).
 14. A wall element according to claim 13, characterized in that the mushroom-shaped profile (6) is slipped onto the frame part (5).
 15. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a border profile (4) is provided on each of two mutually facing edges of the wall member (3), the two border profiles having identical structure and being equipped with revolving elements (10, 10′) of identical design.
 16. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the revolving element (10, 10′) is divided into at least two portions in its longitudinal direction, the at least two portions of the revolving element being turnable independently of one another.
 17. A wall element according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the revolving element (10, 10′) can be turned to such an intermediate position that two different surface structures are externally exposed between the two lips (18). 